Nebraska should have clear skies for the first major meteor shower of 2019

By Chris Peters World-Herald staff writerJanuary 4, 2019

Conditions in Nebraska should be nearly perfect Thursday night and early Friday morning to view the first major meteor shower of the year.

The Quadrantids meteor shower can be seen just beneath the Big Dipper in the night sky. Weather forecasts for Thursday night are calling for clear to mostly clear skies across Nebraska. A clear sky combined with a new moon means shooting stars appear brighter than they would otherwise.

The EarthSky website says Friday morning between midnight and dawn will be the best time to view the shower. As always, those farther away from cities or other areas with high light pollution will have a clearer view.